County COVID-19 Cases Down, but Federal Mandates Approaching

Cindy Doty, senior consultant for PassionHR Consulting, Inc., explained issues facing employers and workers regarding President Joe Biden’s mandate that some companies require COVID-19 vaccinations.

And three times during her presentation at Wednesday’s weekly coronavirus press briefing at the Huntsville City Council chambers she stressed this: neither the city nor the state are issuing these mandates.

Here are the workers who fall under the mandates:

• Federal employees
• Federal contractor employees
• Head Start teachers and staff
• Staff at medical facilities who receive Medicare reimbursements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been directed to develop a standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated, among other things. Employees who fall under OSHA guidelines can opt out of the vaccine and be tested weekly.

The mandates allow for limited exceptions for religious or medical reasons. Doty said anyone applying for an exception should be prepared “to show documentation.’’

“Due to mandates by the federal government, you may be hearing you must be vaccinated in a short period of time in order to keep your job or apply or apply for a new one,’’ she said.

“These are federal mandates and not local law.’’

Workers who fall into the above categories must be fully vaccinated with two shots by Dec. 8.  The second shot of any of the three available vaccines must be taken at least two weeks before that date.

To meet the deadline, and with different time delays required between the first and second dose, the time to get the first shot is here or fast approaching.

Anyone choosing the Moderna vaccine has to get the first shot today, Oct. 27, with the second Nov. 24. The Pfizer and J&J vaccines require a smaller window between shots, so the first should be taken by Nov. 3 with the second Nov. 24.

The federal mandates go into effect despite Governor Kay Ivey issuing an executive order to block the White House. Federal law supersedes any order from the governor unless the state gets a favorable court ruling.

Requiring teachers and staff and people attending events where big crowds are expected to show proof of vaccination or a negative test won’t be dictated by the state for now.

Meanwhile, the recent surge appears to have plateaued in Madison County. Currently, there are 50 inpatients in local hospitals with 16 in Intensive Care Units and 10 on ventilators.

The numbers are “much more favorable than they have been,’’ Crestwood Medical Center CEO Dr. Pam Hudson said. “(But) there continues to be a serious disease that can cause deaths.’’

In Madison County, there have been 52,515 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county and 699 deaths;  62 percent of residents have been vaccinated compared to 20 percent for the rest of the state; and positive test rates are down to 6.2 percent.

Despite the falling numbers, which take the county out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) high-risk category.

“However,’’ Hudson said, “Madison County is surrounded by counties in the high transmission range so it’s important to keep that in mind when you make plans for any kind of travelling and gatherings.’’

Huntsville Hospital and Crestwood have resumed elective surgeries and screenings.

Hudson also maintains social distancing and sanitation should continue to be observed. As for masks, she suggests wearing them when around people whose vaccination status is unknown.

Hudson warned that, with the virus still circulating and more mutations developing, it’s way too soon to fall victim to virus fatigue.

“It will surge again,’’ she said.